Stenter clip



J. J. LYTH STENTER CLIP Nov. 3, 1931.

Filed Jan. 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 3, 1931. 1 1 L YTH 1,830,066

STENTER CLI? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26. 1929 Patented Nov. 3, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOHN Jl LYTH, F VALLEYFIELD, QUEBEC, CANADA.

VsxiiEivrrnR CLIP Application :tiled January 26, 1929.

This invention relates'to improvements in stentering machine clips,- and the primary object of the invention is to provide a clip which willreniain open during movement o from the disch, rge end of the machine to the charging end for the purpose of eliminating wear of the 'feller teeth and ofthe table.

A further Vobj ect is to provid-e a simple, durable and inexpensive clip composed of few 1U parts positively operated with a small eX- penditure. of power` and without reliance on springs.

A still further object is to provide an arrangement such that the clamping capacity is the greatest possible for the size of the faller.

Another object is to guard the fee'ler and the fabric on the table .against Vsoiling by contact with oily lint detached from the driv 2U ing sprockets and also to prevent accumulations of lint from interfering with the operation of the feeler.

Various other objects and the advantages of the invention may be ascertained from the following description. Y

Each clip forms or is mounted on one link of a stenter chain in rthe usual manner.` v The clip body comprises a bottoni plate above which the slotted clamping table is mounted. Rising from'the table is a pair of arms to which the fuller and the opener 4are pivoted, the faller having a cam slot in which the opener engages to vpositively operate the faller. The feeler is carried by the faller'and directly holds the faller out of contact with cloth on the table until thevfeeler slots in the table are uncovered. 'The direct relation of the feeler and taller also causes the faller to positively press the feeler down on clot-'h on the table.

V1wardly, as shown in Figure 8, so that the 9U Lhe accompanyii-ig draw-ings, which il- Serial No. 335,363.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe clip fully closed and incloth gripping position.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the clip fully open. l

F ig. 5 is a plan view of the clip fully open. 5t.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the feeler.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 designates a chain link portion proper having at one end a pair of vertically spaced -apertured jaws 12 and at the other 60 l end an apertured tongue 13 adapted to be pivotally connected between the jaws of an vadjoining link. Between the jaws and the tongue the link is formed with an aperture 14 for reception of the teeth of the sprocket u i wheels (not shown), which move the chain formed by the connected links.

Mounted upon the link 11 is the solid bottom plate 15 of the clip, from the forward edge of which there projects a pair of arms 7U i 16 united at their outer ends by a longitudinal member 17. The clip table 18, which forms the lower jaw of the cloth clamp is rigidly securedto the parts 15, 16 and 17V and is provided with one or more transj also extends upwardly from the bottom plate 8 between the side plates.

A faller 22 of any usual or suitable pattern, having vcloth gripping teeth 2? is pivotally mounted at its upper end to the forward extremities of the side plates'by means 85 Y of a pin 24;.l The faller is, as usual, of such dimensions that when lowered into Contact V'with the table it inclines inwardly or rearpull of the cloth will increase the gripping eilect. Between the side plates, the faller is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 25 formed with a slot 26. The slot is enlarged `at its forward end and opens at the 0b rear -end of the arm ,and is formed on its upper side with `an approximately V-shaped notch or recess 27. It will be noted that the entire weight of the faller, including the arm vis to therrear of thev pivot '24 so that the7 10U faller is constantly urged to downward movement by the action of gravity.

A feeler 2S is pivotally mounted on the faller arm toward the rear end thereof and below the slot by means of a pin 29. This feeler preferably embraces the faller arm and includes a par of arms 350, one on each side of the faller arm, extending forwardly from the pivot and adapted to pass downwardly through the table slots. T he opposite end of the feeler projects rearwardly of the pivot and is of such weight that the feeler, when free, will hang in approximately horizontal position, as shown in Figure l. rlhe rearward end of the feeler is adapted to engage the table in rear of the slots 19, as shown in Figure 2. The body of the feeler is adapted to engage two stops 31 and 32 formed on the lower edge of the faller arm for the purpose of limiting the swing or oscillation of the feeler about its pivotal centre and preventing the feeler assuming or being accidentallyv forced into an inoperative relation to other parts of the clip.

An opener and closer 33 (for convenience termed opener) is pivoted at its lower end between the side plates by means of a pin 34, rI`he lower portion of the opener may be bifurcated for lightness and strength and to extend the base thereof in the longitudinal direction of the clip, so as to eifeetively .resist longitudinal displacement upon engagement with opening and closing cams 35 and 36 respectively. The opener is provided with a pair of forwardly extending arms 37 adapted to embrace between them the feller arm 25. An antifriotion roller 38 is mounted between the forward ends of the opener arms and is of a size to travel easily in the faller slot 26 and to lit snugly into the notch 27 and also to lit very loosely in the enlarged forward end of the slot. The openeris provided with rearwardly extending lugs 39 below the pivot 34 adapted to engage the bottom plate t0 limit rearward swing of the op ner an amount less than would cause disengagement of the roller 38 from the faller slot. The top of the rib 21 may, if desired, serve to limit forward swing of the opener such extent that the roller is out of contact with the faller slot edges when the feller is lowered so as to relieve the faller of the weight of the opener, but this arrangement may be otherwise. Spaced beneath the table, a plate lO extends forwardly between the arms 16 to a distance beyond the ends of the feeler arms.

The operation of the device is as follows t the charging end of the stentering machine the clips are open as shown in Figure l, and the selvedge of cloth is fed onto the table of each clip as it comes to the charging point. The clip. moving at the same speed as the cloth, comes to a stationary closing rain 3G which engages the opener 33 to tip the same forwardly from the upright position shown in Figure l suihciently to drive the roller 38 out of the notch 27 and toward the front end of the slot 26. This movement of the opener overbalances it, so that it tends to fall forward by gravity until stopped by the rib 2l. In the initial movement of the opener, expulsion of the roller from the notch first slightly raises the faller and then, when the roller is out of the notch, permits the faller to fall with the opener until the feeler 28 is lowered into contact with cloth on the table. The relative positions of the parts are now as shown in Figure 2 and it is to be noted that, whereas the feeler arms 30 are spaced above the table a distance representing the thickness of the cloth, the opposite end of the feeler housed between the side plates 20 is in Contact with the table and the whole feeler is pressed downwardly by the weight of the Aita-ller (and, if the fitting of the rib stop 2l permits, is also pressed down by the weight of the opener bearing on the bottom of the faller slot). T his supportinv' of the feeler by the table and by the cloth holds the feeler against swinging about its pivot and also holds the faller up sui'iiciently for the cloth to slip easily between the table and the faller teeth 23. rI`he clip moves at an angle to the edge of the cloth in the well known manner, as to draw away from the cloth and finally disengage the feeler from the cloth. As soon as this disengagement occurs the feeler swings downwardly about its point of support on the table, the arms passing through the table slots 19, and thus lowers its point of pivotal connection with the faller, so that the faller also drops to clamp the cloth down on the table. The positions of the parts are now as shown in Figure 3. In the movement of the feeler reliance is not placed solely on the weight of the feeler but its movement is assured by reason of the downward pressure of the faller and perhaps, also, of the opener. In the clamping position shown in Figure l ther must be clearance between the roller 38 and the top of the faller slot 26, but the fitting of the rib 2l may be such that the opener will advance farther than shown, so as to press downwar ly on the faller. In the tinal position the rear end of the feeler may be still in Contact with the table or may be slight-ly raised above it, as shown in Figure 3. Fitting of the stop 32 should be such as to permit the feeler a little play in this position, so as to ensure against it supporting any part of the weight of the faller and thus interfering with the clamping action.

At the discharge end of the machine, the front of the opener 33 comes into contact with a stationary opening cani 35 which swings the opener rearwardly from the position of Figure 3 to the position ot Figure l and causes it to raise the faller and to position notched in its upper edge; and an opener piv-y 5 lovverend ofthe taller.

the taller ensures feeler operation.

operating athigh speed,=and might cause the opener to overbalance rearwardly andV disengage from the taller were it not for the y stops 39 which engage the plate l5 and prevent this. The rib -21 checks excessive'ior- Ward movement of the opener, such as would resul-t .in thrust-ing the teeler ltoo forcibly against cloth and driving- -tlie Acloth through the table slots. As theffaller arm rises, it of n course car-ries with it the feele-r which is Iso balanced that it tends to` hang horizontally` With the ends of its armsabove the lower end f of the taller, so that vcloth entering the -clip cannot get over the eeler .arms butl must pass under them. Y

Mount-ing of the eeler on the taller possesses the advantage, as compared with other types ci clips that .the paths of the feeler and aller do not intersect .and necessitate cutting away the lower redge of the taller to permit movement `of the feeler to position above the This enables the full length of the ifa-ller to be available for cloth gripping.V Y

The clip operates positively or by gravity and entirely Without use oi springs. It' the action of the feller should bersluggish, the

opener gives .a definite downward thrust to the taller and moves the feeler positively into contact with cloth on theta-ble. If the feeler is sluggish the downward pressureof The plate 40 prevents accumulations `of lint and grease worked forward by the sprocket teeth engaging in the opening 14 Vof the link from coming in Contact with the feeler and being thereby transferred to the cloth. y

ln its open position the opener tends to overbalance rearwardly so that vibration Will not tend to release 'the taller, so that .the clip remains open during its ret-urn Vfrom the discharge end of the machine to theehar-ging end and in this Way prevents the Vteeth, 23 and table from Weari g one anotherv by chattering.

As there are no springs lto be overcome, the imount of .power required to fopen the clip is less than usual and the amount oi powerrc* quired to close the clip is still less.

Having thus described my invention, What l claim is l. In a stentering machine clip, a bodyya falle-r pivoted to said body including arear- Wardly projecting arm having .a slot therein notched in its upper edge; and an opener pivoted to said body engagedin the aforesaid lot to raise said taller and to releasably lock the taller in raised position.

ln a stentering machineclip, a body; a taller pivoted to .said bodyincluding a rear-- ivsrdly proiecting arm having a slottherein ,opener Yupon raising of the taller oted to lsaid body .engagedinthe aforesaid slot to raise said ialsler and to releasably lock the rallier in raised position, the taller and opener so formed and disposed that in the fopen position of :the clip the opener is over-balanced .and tends Yto movement in fall*- erf `lir'ti-Iug; direction., While 4the aller is Vconstantly unged by gravity .to maintain engagementV of :the opener in the taller notch.

3. In a stentering machine clip, a body, a taller pifvoted to the body., an opener .pivoted to the body, arms rigidly connected respectively to the feller and to the .opener and slidably engaging'one another., and gravity actuated latcliing means on .said arms automatically operable upon opening fof the clip to neleasably lock the clip by reason .of the tendency of the :opener and taller `to return to closed position in Jfullfopen position. i

l. In a stentering machine clip, a body, ka taller pivoted to the body, to the body, and latching means connected to the taller and to the vopener automatically operable by relative movement of the `tailler and opener upon .opening of `the cli-p to roleasafbly iockthe taller :andthe opener in their full open positions.

5,. In a stentering machine clip, a body, a falter pivoted to the body, an opener pivoted to the body, and .means operating automatical-ly by relative movement of the taller .and

for releasably latching the faller and opener together and against movement locked full open position.

A6. In `a stentering' machine clip, :taller pivoted to the bodyr and an opener pivoted tothe body, :said taller and opener including parts ladapted to move in intersecting paths .downwardly and toward one another during lclosing of thee-lip, one of `said parts an opener pivoted Y and opener from ltheir raised positions, whereby the v'clip is releasably a body, a I

including a cam surface yagainst which the yother part leans' by` gravity in the open 'posi- 'tion of the clip with tendencyto lift said-,cam

surfaced part, inferior in amount tothe gravit-ational opposition of ythe cam surfaced part to such lifting, whereby the par-ts are re'- `:leasa'bly locked in 26u11 open position.

7. VIn a stenterinfgI `machine clip, a body, a

falle-r nivoted tothe body, an opener pivoted Vto the body, and latc'hing means connected to the taller and to the opener operable by the tendency or' the taller and 'opener tov return to closed position to releasably lock the Afa'ller and the opener in their full open positions.

8. A stentering machine clip comprising, a` body including a table forming one jaw of the clip, a taller pivot-.ed to the body above 1 the table forming the other jaw of ythe clip, an opener pivoted .to the body ,at approximately t'he level of'and in rear of the table, a slotted arm projecting' rear-Wardiy from vthe taller., andan arm projecting forwardly from the opener operatively engaging in the slot or' the taller arm to raise the taller.

9. In combination with a device according to claim 8, stops on the body to limit movement of the opener and prevent disengagement or the aller and opener arms.

10. A devce according to claim 8, in which the `taller arm is provided with a notch extending upwardly from the slot and in which the opener arm is adapted for engagement in said notch to releasably lock the taller and opener in their raised positions.

11. In a stentering machine clip, a body, a taller pivoted to the body and adapted to be moved to cloth holding position by gravity,` an opener pivoted to the body engaging the taller and adapted to be moved by gravity with positive Jtaller depressing effect, said taller and opener being adapted for direct interlocking and to be retained in interloclred relation solely by gravity to hold the clip in full open position during transit from the discharging to the charging end of a stentering machine.

12.111 a stentering machine clip, a body, a aller pivoted to the body at the front thereof and projecting rearwardly from its point of pivotal attachment, an opener pivoted to the body in rear of the pivotal attachment of the taller and projecting forwardly from its point of pivotal attachment into engaging relation with the Jtaller, the engageable portions of said opener and taller being formed for latching engagement with one another in the open position of the clip to releasably lock the clip by reason of the tendency of the opener and aller to return to closed position in open position.

13. In a stentering machine clip, a body, a taller pivoted to the body, an opener pivoted to the body and entirely disconnected from the taller, said opener being engageable with the taller to raise and lower the same and solely by itself to releasably lock the faller in elevated position.

14. A stentering machine clip comprising a body including a lower cloth supporting jaw, an upper jaw member pivoted to the body and adapted to descend upon said lower jaw to clamp cloth thereto, and an opener pivoted to the body engaging said upper jaw member and adapted to raise the upper jaw member and to releasably latch the upper i aw member in its raised position, said latching being effected solely by the interengagement of the upper jaw member and the opener and without the agency oit' any third member.

15. A stentering machine clip comprising a body including a lower cloth supporting jaw, an upper jaw member pivoted to the body and adapted to descend by gravity upon said lower jaw to clamp cloth thereto, and an opener pivoted to the body engaging said upper jaw member and adapted to descend by gravity with capacity to lower the upper jaw, said opener being also adapted to raise the upper jaw and to releasably latch the upper jaw in its raised position, said latching being etl'ected by the force of gravity acting through the interengagelnent ot the upper jaw member and the opener and without the agency of any third member, said upper j aw member being releasable tor descent by movement imparted to the opener to move the same out of latching engagement with the upper j aw member.

16. A stentering machine clip according to claim 11i, in which the upper j aw member includes a jaw lifting arm formed in its lower edge with a notch into which the opener enters with latching eitect.

17. A stentering machine clip accordin g to claim 15, in which the upper ja member includes a jaw lifting arm formed with a slot and a notch in the upper edge of thc slot, the-opener being engagcable with the upper edge of the slot for lifting and with, the lower edge of thc slot 'for jai7 lowering and being engageable in the notch with latching etect.

18. A stentering machine clip according to claim 15, in which the upper jaw member includes a jaw lifting arm formed with a slot and a notch in the upper edge ot the slot, the opener being engageable with the upper edge oit the slot for jaw liiting and with the lower edge of the slot for jaw lowering and being engageable in the notch with latching effect, in combination with pair of opener actuating elements positioned to positively move the opener in opposite directions for clip opening and clip closing respectively.

19. A stentering machine clip comprising a body including a lower cloth supporting jaw, an upper jaw member pivoted to the body and adapted to descend by gravity upon the lower jaw to clamp cioth thereto, and a opener member pivoted to 'the body and engaging said upper jaw member, the surface of one of said members in engagement with the other member in the raised position o'l the members being so inclined relatively to the path followed by the engaged portion of the other member about its pivotal point that the force of gravity acting in one meinber is opposed to the force of gravity acting in the other member whereby the members are releasably held in raised position.

20. A stentering machine ciip comprising a body including a lower cloth supporting jaw, an upper jaw member pivoted to the bor y and adapted to descend by gravity upon the lower jaw to clamp cloth thereto, and. an

opener member pivotcd to the body and cngaging said upper jaw member, Hiriace of the jaw member in engagement with t opener member in the raised position oi' members beine so inclined relatively to loro:

ns'oee" path followed by the engaged portion of the opener member about its pivotal point that downward movement of the opener member from its raised position would further raise the jaw member against the action of gravity, the gravitational effect in the jaw member being sufiicient to overcome said raising action, whereby the members mutually support one another in raised position.

21. A stentering machine clip comprising a body including a lower cloth supporting jaw, an upper jaw memberpivoted to the body and adapted lto descend by gravity upon the lower jaw to clamp cloth thereto, and an opener member pivoted to the body and engaging said upper jaw member, the surface of the jaw member in engagement with the opener member in the raised position of the members being so inclined relatively to the path followed by the engaged portion of the opener member about its pivotal point that downward movement of the opener member from its raised position would further raise the jaw membenagainst the action of gravity, the gravitational effect in the j aw member being superior to the gravitational effect in the opener whereby the jaw member tends to further raise the opener, and means limiting the upward movement of the opener whereby the members are releasably locked in raised position.

22. A stentering machine clip comprising a body, a :taller pivoted to the body, an opener pivoted to the body, said faller and opener being provided with mutually engaging means for transmitting movement from one to the other and tending to return by gravity from their open positions to their closed positions, the said mutually engaging means being operable' in the open positions of the opener and faller and by reason of the tendency of the opener and faller to return to their closed positions to releasably lock the opener and taller in their full open positions.

28. In a stentering machine clip, in combination, a. body; a aller pivoted to the body; and an opener for said faller pivoted to said body and engaged by said faller, and adapted to be so balanced in its open position that the force of gravity tends to swing the opener '1n its entirety about its pivotal aXis away from said faller.

24. In a stentering machine clip, in combination, a body; a faller pivoted to the body; and an opener for said faller engaging and adapted to impart cloth gripping motion thereto, so formed and co-related with respect to said faller that in its open position the force of gravity tends to swing the same in its entirety away from said faller and hold the latter component in elevated position.

25. In a stentering machine clip, in combination, a body; a taller pivoted to said body; and an opener for said faller pivoted to said body, said faller and opener being so formed and co-related that gravitational force acting on said faller and opener is restrained, independently of associated means other than the means limiting movement of said opener,l

hand.

JOHN J. LYTH. 

